The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-14

Oae morning, In the tenth year OF bel
stay, wrapped In her long cloak and bly,
blue hood, and walking In the grounds, o.
which abe had long had the liberty, she
suddenly threw up her handa uttering q
loud cry, ~ have II oil! have II all u
n!ipped through the gate and was gone
The clot was absorbed at last; the cure
was complete.
Possibly It was tho same woman who
shipped that night on an outward bound
vessel as stewardess, took her wagcs In
tho American port, purchased fresh under
garments with feveriah haste and bought
s,railway ticket for the town where Hele.
ma Vance was born and had lived hei
happy life.
How slow was the train No lively tune
could Ito motion make In her mind the
wheels clamored and clattered only to the
movement Of funeral march. She could
neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep. Ten
years! II was an eternity! Would they be
alive-Leonard-the dear old aunta2 Who
had taken care OF the poor things In all
those yeaHP How they must have missed
her, their darling! How he must have
missed her, his other self Robbed Of ten
yeass Of happiness, condemned to ten
yeats Of solitude and sutieflng-lf, indeed,
he had not found the refuge he had always
looked for in her loss, the refuge Of the
grave, himself. How she would work to
q tone to him, to make him happy, in
all their remaining years, with re-
doubled happiness, as II the whole tide
that should have belonged totheyearH that
were lost In that black gap Of unconscious.
ness flowed back with ten times repeated
strength and depth. Oh, II he only lived!
She longed unspeakably once more TO feel
his arms about her, his kiss on her mouth;
TO look Into his eyes and to hear bis voice.
Ten years could not have changed him go
much; they had hardly changed her at
all, with that long slumber Of the brain.
And once more to have that shelter, that
support, that care, that worship! Her
heart beat so that 1t choked her; she
trembled with eagerness, with fear, with
hope, with Joy: And yet-if she-should
meet Leonard with smile on his face
Five O'Clock OF gray afternoon when
q woman, In long cloak and blue hood
that nearly hid her face, walked slo WY
up the hillside to Cragsnest, as II the
throbbing Of her heart made 1t barely
possible to move.
The plaza had changed o little. The
house aud gardens were the same-yes,
there were the roses; "their blossoms will
seem to be your breath" she said. Some.
body cared for them then. "Oh, roses,
what happiness you witnessed once, what
happiness you shall againW she said.
But still there was chsnge-yes, 1t was
the wilderness Of trees above and below
that were being cut away, and piles OF
cord wood and great logs made contus.
ion Of the place, as il, instead Of being a
finished home a century old, 1t were q
new clearing in the forest. It made her
shake q little, as her cyeg wandered up
and down; shs felt as il that would not
happen il Leonard lived there still the
spot should be sacred to him with memory
OF hor. What was it he had once said ?
There shall be no change here SO long as
you ere the pole.star Of my being"
What was it she had answered him
The earth swings to new pole,stays.''
She went round 10 door in the gable,
lettering at last, and leaning on the jamb
q moment; she pulled her big hood about
her face, and knocked and went into a
room where three old ladies sat. Nothing
in the room had been moved from it's
original place-papers, and pictures, and
carpets were only little faded-.hat gas
all. A pale old woman slum6ered In her
chair in thelhebetude OF age from which |
she never walked; one read novel in |
state Of bland contentment and well-be.
ingi aud one, the lively littIs bustling
aunt lsne, wss busy With work basket
and humping pleasantly 10 herself the |
while. II the three had missed their |
niece In the beginning, they were recon-
clled by this, and lived happy, easy life, |
cared for in sufficient comfort evidently.
LET you rest!" chirruped Aunt Jane.
ITO be sure, my good woman. Tsky the
rocking.chaii. Ecu see, this is the house
Of rest" glancing at her. sisters. "Are
you going far?"
met far" was the low Terly,
"From the aeighhorhood hereS"
VI used to live here ones, long ago, long
ago." !
'Ah, indeed" said Aunt Jane, viewing
the hole she was to darn on her stretched
fingers. Then you find the place changed,
l suppose"
ION, yes; oh yeu.p
"Well, tits changed. And it's o pity,
too. But they have been cutting down the
trees ever since leonard married again.
He found it profitable, and having two
families to support" e..r..0
"Is-is-is Leonard married AGAIN."
How the voice shookl 1t was only q
CHASTITY whisper. 5a.,-a.ya.,.'
"You knew him then? Oh, yes, long
since. Let's see-6ve years, think. His
son Is quite a lad, He--'
sand he is the one that would not live
if his wife diedl" said the other, with
sudden hysterical laugh that made Aunt
Betty look up from the pages Of her "sea-
aide" And then the world was going
outaait wEs all blaok-it Raa going out
no, no; she must not, she would not lose
her self control! ras
fro NIX coyctunrn 1o.yoppnw %.